24. An Entirely Connected Case

“But I could not rest, Watson, I could not sit quiet in my chair, if I thought that such a man as Professor Moriarty were walking the streets of London unchallenged.”

— Dr. John H. Watson.

“The Adventure of the Final Problem.”

My dear Watson,

My steamship leaves port today. I will reach London by Thursday, March 29th with no plans for the Fool’s Day, except dining with you at Marcini’s on Mycroft’s tab.

After my adventures, I only hope to see your welcoming face and hear that voice which has always been so full of the questions that has completed me and my searches for justice. This trip has unlocked so many of my closed doors. I wonder will you recognize me, dear boy.

There is one evildoer who impatiently awaits my return and I am supremely prepared for him. The trap will be carefully baited, the hunter will not be able to resist, and we will pounce!

As you know me to be, dear partner,

Very sincerely yours,

S. H.

Marcello, Miss Rita, the child, and I travelled by carriage downtown, with the Hudson River on our right. Our destination: Pier 40 on Clarkson Street. The good ship Lucania, Cunard Line, bound for Liverpool was docked and waiting.

“Now, with your permission, I will demonstrate the simple sequence of events that led to your complicated rescue, Miss Marcello.”

“Thank you, professor.”

“First, your whereabouts, following her persistent proclaiming of your dire situation I escorted your niece to every local authority. No result was ascertained. A chance interview substantiated by Harold’s barbershop gossip revealed Pinto was newly single, but not divorced, selling his home, but not leaving Poughkeepsie. Yet he was clearly attempting to raise fast funds. The balance of probability was that Miss Rita had been cast aside but was alive in some uncommon place. I concluded that only through Pinto was forward momentum possible.”

“You chose the most dangerous way, why didn’t you just talk to Shawn Reilly?” Marcello said.

“Still concerned for my safety, Marcello?” I smiled at him. “Pinto is not so foolish; he positioned himself at Reilly’s back so his information was irrelevant. With your and Miss Marietta’s helpful counsel, I naturally began by examining the house. And found proof of Miss Rita’s commitment and the annulment of their marriage. My telegram to Hudson confirmed it.” I patted her hand.

“Second, your release, I realized the complexity in venturing a successful rescue if our legal plans broke down and commenced my search for accomplished collaboration. Miss Marietta devised a plan to incorporate your family and staged visits to support you through the lengthy legal process.”

“What a delight to have such a scheming and intelligent sister at my back.” Miss Rita said.

“She is a singular and most generous lady. During our mock-birthday visitation your brother, Felice, wanted to take them on then and there. His courage shone in that dank and dreary place, as he restored our ability to confer without being overheard. I am curious, how did you fare that day, Miss Marcello?”

“No punishment and my meal restrictions were removed.”

“Then our involvement achieved its purpose that day. Dr. Philips was contracted by the child and myself. Your niece would make a fine comic actress, if she weren’t such a true hearted scientist.” She looked up at me with a smile. “As we unfortunately established, consignment to Hudson Asylum is easily achieved, and the action of the lowest form of human. If the need arises, know that Philips is a superb and kind professional. He recommended Morris Henry’s legal advice. Both men laid out the requirements for your sanity hearing. This set the family up for your trial.

“The child and I then involved Mrs. Stanton and Miss Anthony who devised an ingenious addition to the rescue, and made it look like an outing in the park. Further the impromptu chaos created by the suffragists allowed us the moments we needed for our skilful escape on the ice. The women and children these ladies welcomed into their march will shortly be embarking on new lives in the British Dominion of Canada.” I nodded to him. “Marcello involved Houdini, who with the assistance of Nurse Nancy and Dr. Josiah, kept the staff occupied and then put them to sleep, probably not going on any of Houdini’s posters. Ha!”

The cab slowed and the cabbie interrupted us. “’Scuse me, sir, we are ordered to stop. It’s the p’lice.” He reined in his horses. Two very young policemen representing New York City’s Finest were stamping their feet at a temporary boundary, and asked us to identify ourselves.

Marcello confronted them. “What is this about?” Miss Rita took his hand, shook her head, and smiled at him.

“There’s escaped lunatics from upriver, da whole force is lookin’ for ‘em.” We calmly introduced ourselves, including Miss Rita’s alias. They asked Mr. Sigerson to get out. I hopped down, shook hands and signed autographs. Then lit a cigarette and offered them to the officers. I nonchalantly mentioned my steamship and in a matter of minutes they let us go. “Arrivederci!”

We were again underway. “Miss Rita, you have confounded the entire New York City Police Force.”

“Rita—how?” Marcello said.

“Oh, Miss Anthony is very thorough. She prepared me for this situation.” Miss Rita brought out her new passport. “And call me Sally!” We laughed.

“Professor Sigerson, please continue.” The child said.

I smiled. “My undercover exploration of the asylum garnered important clues as to the identity of this potent authority.” Six sets of eyes were glued to my every word. “As far as that ersatz trial, it was clear the cards were stacked against you, so we opted for our intriguingly quick escape. I am grateful, Marcello, for your swift and professional inauguration of our plans. Dr. Josiah informed me that the wires were cut so competently, his man easily restored communications.”

“I knew if I enlisted those who had a history of success in such matters and added to it the dynamic ability to mesmerize an audience, plus the courage to walk into the asylum with loaded guns, that the rescue would be achieved.” I doused my cigarette and shook Marcello’s hand. “Such powerful deceptions on six consecutive stages, allowed us to escape onward to Mrs. Stanton’s home by virtue of Miss Rita’s exceptional ice yacht skills.” I patted her hand. “Just when we thought all was lost some surprisingly arresting and dangerous heroics by Mr. Paulo Marcello and his niece allowed us to continue to New York.” I shook her hand.

The child smiled. “There was no danger; when out on the ice, the Commodore’s orders are followed without question by all members of the yacht club. I had the tough job; do you have any idea how difficult it is to keep two flags visible in that wind?” We laughed as our horse’s hooves clattered down the west side.

Marcello said. “Overnight, Albert taught Marietta how to handle a gun, we didn’t have much time, but at close range how could she miss?”

“With the asylum’s secrets, and strange therapies, I felt in my bones a central force at work. Events proved that I had judged correctly. As an orderly, I uncovered and brought them each into my confidence. It would be the Simons’ brothers, Lacassio or Edwards. They surely had motive and ability. I knew they were capable of anything. I watched them, Marcello, but fell into their trap, instead.”

“Yeah, and if we had gotten there any later, you’d still be there, as either a eunuch or a vegetable.” Marcello said. I looked at him and we burst out into a fit of laughter. I patted his back and lit us both a cigarette.

“Thank God you did, Uncle Oscar.”

“Third, the murder, As we hurtled south via the train which completed our great ice yacht escape, Miss Rita courageously disclosed to me the murder she had been forced to witness the night before.” I looked in her eyes and took her hand. “I flew back to the asylum and with Dr. Josiah’s help, conducted a detailed investigation of the scene.” I patted her hand. “Because of your courage and supreme mind, Miss Marcello, this murder caught up with Simons. Here is today’s Poughkeepsie Daily Eagle. With his predilection for electrical murder is it not too absurd to suppose that the electric chair may be an appropriate punishment?”

“Supreme mind, I’m glad to hear that from a gentleman.” Miss Rita smiled as she read the paper.

“I obtained enough evidence to convict him, and your testimony in the witness box would strengthen it, but that is your privilege. If you are so moved, speak with Mr. Henry.”

“I have always laid great stress upon reasoning from trifles the larger image, and much practice has made it second nature to me. I discovered circumstances which validated your story. And in Simons’ office, a gloating confession was left behind as an impression on his desk blotter. I had Helena’s map which delineated the unmarked graves exactly where the bodies were located. When the police dug up the lawn, they found more than one corpse. Mr. Battaglia’s wounds exactly matched your description.

“After presenting Simons with the facts, I interviewed him. He disclosed enough to corroborate his damning narrative. I consolidated the evidence and put it in Mr. Henry’s capable hands, along with a signed statement of my findings. He has the means to successfully prosecute Simons for deliberate, premeditated, cold-blooded murder.”

The child shook my hand. “But, Professor Sigerson, don’t you need to be here for the trial?”

“Ah, child, ‘Thrice is he armed who hath his quarrel just.’ I am confident that Mr. Henry can bring this to fruition without me. Never fear, I have given him all the ammunition he needs. It is essential that I leave today”.

“I might have a conversation with Dr. Josiah about his plans.” Miss Rita said.

“I’m sure he’d welcome that.”

We arrived at the pier. “Come aboard for a tour, it is precisely the ship from my first trip. Not in crew quarters this time.”

I had returned to my strength and was departing the States to fulfil my destiny in London. We jumped from the cab; I escorted the child up the gangplank behind arriving luggage and passengers. We secured my luggage in the on-deck stateroom. The girl said, wide-eyed. “This is a boat?” Wood panelled, thickly carpeted. Velvet curtains, richly upholstered furniture. “Look at all this room!”

“When it’s time to hop over for a visit, you and your Uncle Oscar will enjoy your own stateroom.”

“I wish it was now.”

When Marcello joined us, she was crying into my handkerchief.

“Rachel, you must see the dance hall. It’s filled with mermaids, and there are at least a thousand people saying farewell, waving handkerchiefs, and a New York Times photographer, you don’t want to miss this.” Marcello said.

We exited to the main deck, into the sky-lit dining saloon. The domed skylight ceiling was made of blue and gold stained glass mermaids. The wood-panelled walls had decoratively carved classical mermaids in white and gold.

“The morning and evening light transforms it. This is where I fiddled my way across. And I will do so again. Marcello, what are your plans?”

“We go from here to meet a friend of Rachel’s, and now Rita can join them on a train back to Poughkeepsie. Following that, my compatriots and I take the transcontinental express across the country for final fair set-up. It should take just four days to put us at the West Coast.”

Miss Rita said. “You know, Oscar, I just might join you.”

“Aunt Marietta has a trip to the fair already planned, Aunt Rita, and she hoped you would join her.” The child said.

“I’m sure she’d rather the professor joined her.”

Miss Marietta’s intelligent and resourceful gentleness will be missed. I admired these young Marcello’s, yet, I was eager for an eminent London adventure with my ever faithful Watson. Marcello and Miss Rita said farewell and left the ship, giving the child her chance to say goodbye.

From the pier they watched open-mouthed, as a young man ran up through the crowds of people moving on the gangplank. Upon reaching the deck he turned, aimed at me and fired off a shot which whizzed past the child. The sound of the shot echoed off the Cunard Line Building and created intense perturbation as the frenzied passengers flew into the dining saloon. I launched the child with a compelling shove. “Go to the cabin, NOW!” The ship’s bell rang and a confusion of people ran down the gangplank, scattering as fast as they could. In an instant, the deck was empty except for the assassin and me. He raised his gun, I growled, leapt to him and knocked it out of his hand with my stick, and the force of it propelled it over the side.

The assassin drove me to the railing. I gained my feet and pinned him. “What is your name, boy?”

He pulled away from me and sneered. “James Moriarty!”

In my rage and anger at Rachel’s endangerment, I smashed my fist into his jaw, then before he had a chance to raise his hands I dazed him with a solid right uppercut. He shook his head and counterpunched attempting a one, two combination, I parried his right and his second jab hit me in the solar plexus with a weak left. I smiled and in quick succession slammed my powerful left into his jaw once, then twice, the third was the haymaker, he fell to the deck. I held my gun to his head, and cocked it. “Son, I have dispatched 30 of your kind and you are lucky to be alive, do not tempt me.”

The crew secured and brought him to the brig and I was taken to the Captain’s great chart room. “Please forgive my delaying your departure, Captain McKay.” I saluted him.

“Mr. Holmes?”

“Yes sir.”

“I’ve already wired the New York Police Department. With luck, we’ll be off in a couple of hours. Your fight will be the talk of the ship, I opened the bar early, passengers are already celebrating.

“Thank you, sir.

“Mr. Holmes, tell me all you know of the man you subdued on my deck.”

“He is an assassin out for me, not well skilled, and said his name was James Moriarty. I have fought many like him on the continent, yet I did not expect to find one here.”

McKay said. “He discharged his pistol on my deck. He was lucky to face you. I would have shot him. The safety of my ship and protection of a full roster of passengers was at stake. You are a hero.”

“Be that as it may, what do you think the Police Department will do with me?”

“Nothing, I imagine, once I make it clear to them that this ruffian has threatened my passengers at gunpoint and held up my voyage. And that you, a crewman stepped up and saved the day, saved his life as I was readying to shoot him. Say nothing of assassins or that he was after you personally. I will fully cooperate with them, as will you, yet I can only grant them a couple of hours to accomplish their task. But there is nothing to worry about.” I saluted him.

A crewman entered the cabin. “Captain, the police have arrived.” He handed McKay a two stripe Cunard line uniform.

“Thank you mate, lower the gangplank and bring them on board. Mr. Holmes, your uniform, I will refer to you as Mate Newton?”

“Yes sir.”

We met with New York City Police Inspector Crowley and four officers. They handcuffed and brought their man from the brig into their waiting black growler. The inspector interviewed Captain McKay and me. I admired the captain’s equanimity under fire; he was a courteous host and had made it easy for the police. His chef brought fresh coffee and breakfast comestibles. When I came on deck to detail the scene, the passengers cheered, underlining my story. The inspector was satisfied with our account and the captain would be back in New York in two weeks if needed. The Police Inspector gave the order to shove off. The gangplank was raised, the whistle blew, and the Lucania left port, an hour and a half later than expected. I shook hands with Captain McKay and left his cabin.

The boy who attempted to kill me was secured in a New York gaol; the ship passengers were celebrating Easter a day early, and the girl was still in my cabin. I ran to her side.

She said. “You’re alright?” She hugged me tightly. “Thank God! I‘ve been praying for you.”

I looked down at her and began to breathe again. “Intelligence and sensibility, a rare pairing, I am proud of you. Come with me child, we need to send a message.” I took her by the hand and we ran to the stern. We had seconds to mime a message to Marcello and Miss Rita who had remained with the throng of gawkers on shore. Then sprinted to the communications room to send telegrams before the ship moved out of range. One to the Marcello family and to Oscar Marcello’s Manhattan studio to say I would keep the child safe.

The Lucania headed for the open with one remarkably unexpected passenger aboard. The ship travelled majestically downriver, tugboats fore and aft, through that churned and swirled conjunction where the sumptuous Hudson in its final beneficence poured itself out into New York Harbour. As if requesting her blessing, the ship gave a whistle to La Liberté éclairant le monde.

We returned to the stateroom. I sat cross-legged in a chair, lit a cigarette and considered the girl before me. “Miss Rachel, it appears you will realize your wish to rendezvous with Dr. John Watson. He is my friend and colleague and I am Sherlock Holmes.”

She smiled. “Aw, I knew that when we met on Market Street.”

All across the crowded harbour, Lucania’s whistle was heard greeting each vessel from tug to ferry, steamship to tall-masted schooner. Then she purposefully moved out to sea.

The End